Inhale

Chapter 15:

It was January and band practise was the next day.

Christmas had come and it had gone, joey gave corey more clothes for Christmas like he planned too, which corey was grateful for and corey got a small gift for Joey out his coat pocket, joey realised that was what corey really went to do at the mall.

Joey loved the small cat plush, as childish as it sounded, with its black fur and bright green eyes.

Corey apparently like his clothes, even though he was annoyingly grumpy on christmas.

But he perked up as the times moved away.

Joey watched corey, he lent against the door frame, corey was sitting on the sofa picking at the skin round his nails.

"You okay?" Joey asked

Corey sighed "nervous for tomrrow."

Joey nodded "me too." He sat down on the sofa by corey.

"Really?"

Joey nodded again "yeah, I'm uh...I'm scared I'll mess up."

"You wont." Corey assured "I know I gave you a hard time but...you're still an amazing drummer." Corey smiled

Joey shrugged "I'm not that good."

"Best drummer in all of des Moines." Corey laughed

Joey went bright red "shut up."

Corey rolled his eyes "fine. If you say so."

Joey kicked his legs as he looked at his feet. "I have a question."

Corey raised an eyebrow

"Its some of your lyrics...the ones you wrote...well...are you okay?" Joey asked wide eyed

Corey looked away "yeah, I'm fine."

"You look tense."

"I'm not." Corey assured "I'm fine."

Joey sighed "you dont have to lie to me you-"

"I'm fine!" Corey snapped "fuck."

"I'm sorry for asking." Joey sighed "jeez what's got you in a bad mood?"

Corey sighed too "nothing...I'm just fine."

Joey nodded as corey played with the skin next to his nails again.

"You gotta stop doing that."

"I'm going to the spare room." corey said

Joey stared at him "just call it your room..."

Corey turned around blinking in surprise "r-really?"

Joey chuckled "you dont need to look so shocked. I call it your room, like you're living in it afterall."

Corey smiled softly "thanks Joey."

"Consider it nothing."

Corey's hand snaked to the back of his neck "I feel really bad about the rent..."

"Dont." Joey said "I told you, you dont have to worry about any rent."

"I feel i should pay you back in some way." Corey said

"Nope." Joey said firmly "unless you quit the band and want to stay you have a reason for being here. Think of it like that."

Corey nodded "okay."

"Plus I dont pay rent for this. I own it." Joey smiled "so we dont run much risk for being kicked out."

"Good to know." Corey said wondering off.